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Leadership team

Profiles of our Executive team and Board.

Executive team

Lawrence Slade

Lawrence is Chief Executive of ENA. He joined the organisation in February 2023.

He was previously Chief Executive Officer of GIIA, the membership body for the world's leading institutional investors. Prior to his role at GIIA, Lawrence began working with Energy UK in 2011, becoming its Chief Executive in January 2015. Additionally, he served on the boards of Eurogas and Eurelectric in Brussels.

He has been involved in the energy industry since the late 1990s, working in countries around the world.

Lawrence is a Board member of Connected Kerb, and a Board Trustee of the St Clare Hospice. He is also a Fellow of the Energy Institute.

David Boyer

David is responsible for leading all aspects of ENA’s work around electricity systems, including our flagship projects helping to make the UK’s energy grid smarter and more flexible, delivering benefits for customers in the long run. 

David joined us from Accenture and has over 13 years of experience in the utilities sector. He began his career with UK Power Networks, where he worked in a host of engineering roles before specialising in putting innovation into practice, as Innovation Manager. At Accenture, he spent five years on strategic projects, often focused on the challenges within energy transition.  

James Earl

James is Director of Gas at ENA. He joined us in August 2022 and has over 10 years of experience in the energy sector. James leads ENA’s gas team and has overall responsibility for the ENA’s gas activities, including input into the Gas Goes Green programme.

James began his career in the energy industry at the GB electricity and gas markets regulator Ofgem, where he spent seven years working across a multitude of regulation and policy projects, in both gas and electricity and in both GB and Europe.

James has most recently been working as a consultant at the professional services firm KPMG in their Energy and Natural Resources team. As an Associate Director at KPMG, James specialised in the future of gas, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, working extensively with the gas networks as well as government, industrials, prospective hydrogen producers and investors.

He holds a Masters degree in Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment from University College London, as well as a Bachelors in Economics.

Ross Easton

Ross is Director of External Affairs. He joined ENA in January 2020 and leads the External Affairs team to deliver high-quality public affairs, digital and media engagement. In December 2022 to February 2023, he was Interim Chief Executive.

He began his career at SSE in 2006, before holding similar positions at The Weir Group and Network Rail over the next decade. He joined the UK Government in 2017 and in 2019 became Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

He started his career through a modern apprenticeship, without going to university. He went on to study for a degree in Business and Management Studies, a Postgraduate Certificate in Management Studies with Distinction, and a Diploma in Professional Public Relations.

Ross is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a Mental Health First Aider. In March 2024 he joined the Board of Joe's Buddy Line, a charity set up to promote and protect the mental health of young people, from primary school to university.

Paul McGimpsey

Paul is Director, Markets & Regulation at ENA, with responsibility for influencing the regulatory environment in the delivery of efficient, sustainable and secure networks through the RIIO price control process, and wider work on policy and regulation.

Paul joined ENA in June 2019, initially on secondment from SP Energy Networks, to lead ENA's secretariat team, providing expert facilitation and support to Ofgem's Network Access and Targeted Charging significant code reviews.

Paul has nearly three decades of experience in the industry on commercial and regulatory matters across transmission and distribution, most recently leading on the development of SP Energy Networks' whole system strategy for its RIIO-ED2 business plan.

Paul has an honours degree in Commerce and Information Management and a Masters in Business Administration.

Board of Directors

Our Board is comprised of senior leaders within each of ENA’s member companies. ENA's Chief Executive also sits on the Board.

  • Phil Jones, Chairperson

    Phil is Chairperson of Energy Networks Association and the President and Chief Executive of member company Northern Powergrid. He has been in the electricity distribution sector since 1993. He is a chartered electrical engineer and progressed through a number of technical and managerial roles in Yorkshire Electricity prior to the merger with Northern Electric in 2001. In 2007 he was awarded an OBE for his services to the energy industry.

  • Chris Bennett

    Chris is currently Director of Regulation at National Grid and over the last five years has been Director of UK Regulation with a primary focus on RIIO-2 price controls. Other key activities include running a successful Customer and Stakeholder transformation programme for UK businesses and leading our industry engagement in our role in delivering Net Zero.

    Chris has nearly 30 years’ experience in the UK Utility sector and has previously held senior commercial and operational roles in National Grid’s Gas Distribution, Metering and Transmission businesses. Chris is also a non-Exec of Affordable Warmth Solutions (AWS) and had previously sat on the Board of Cadent Gas and Xoserve.

  • Graham Edwards OBE

    Graham is Chief Executive of Wales & West Utilities (WWU). He has held the role since the organisation began in 2005, following the acquisition of the gas networks from National Grid. Prior to joining WWU he held senior positions in the electricity and water sectors, with South Wales Electricity plc, Hyder plc and RWE Thames Water. Graham is a non-executive Director of Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and the University of South Wales. He has an MBA and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development.

  • Steve Fraser

    Steve is Chief Executive of Cadent. He has over 20 years’ experience of managing and transforming infrastructure businesses latterly as Chief Operating Officer and a main board Director of the FTSE 100 water company United Utilities. Steve has a degree in Management Studies and a Masters in Engineering Management from UMIST he holds a diploma in Advanced Management from Harvard University.

  • Mark Horsley

    Mark has been Chief Executive Officer of Northern Gas Networks (NGN) since 2011. He has over 40 years of experience in the energy sector. Since joining NGN the company has transformed its approach to customer service, securing twelve national accolades for customer and employee experience, including a National Business Award for ‘Customer Focus’. Mark held the post of Chair of Energy Networks Association from 2004 to 2006. He was appointed Non-Executive Director of the EIC in September 2017.

  • Derek Hynes

    Derek Hynes was appointed Managing Director of NIE Networks in September 2022.  He is a director of Energy Networks Association Ltd, Centre for Competitiveness and Smart Grid Ireland. He joined ESB in 2000 where he held a number of senior management positions, mostly within ESB Networks DAC, the independent ring-fenced subsidiary within ESB Group, including as Head of Project Delivery and Network Operations Manager. He was also Residential Ireland Manager of Electric Ireland, a retail business within ESB.

    He is a chartered engineer with post graduate qualifications in Operations Management and Corporate Governance and he has completed the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard University.

  • Vicky Kelsall

    Vicky Kelsall brings over thirty years’ experience in the energy sector, working across electricity networks in the UK and US alongside retail in the UK.  She has worked in international roles for Scottish Power with PacifiCorp and, most recently, with its parent group Iberdrola in North America at Avangrid.  Previously, she was Chief Operating Officer of SP Energy Networks, responsible for all transmission and distribution operations.

  • Clive Linsdell

    Clive has specialised in developing competitive utilities for over 20 years. Since 2006 he has led BUUK through a period of growth to become the UK’s No1 utility new connections provider. Prior to joining BUUK, Clive worked in a wide variety of roles in the Water, Gas and Electricity sectors.

  • Rob McDonald

    Rob is Managing Director of Transmission at Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN). Prior to this Rob was SSE’s Managing Director Corporate and Business Services covering Legal, Regulation, Compliance, Safety and Large Capital Projects Services across the Group. Rob joined Southern Electric in 1997 and held various managerial roles within the Regulation Group including SSE’s Director of Regulation and Managing Director, Regulation and Strategy. In July 2006 he was appointed as a Board Director of Scotia Gas Networks plc. Prior to that Rob worked as an economist with the Office of Electricity Regulation (OFFER).

  • Cordi O'Hara OBE FEI

    Cordi is President, UK Electricity Distribution at National Grid. She is responsible for the safe and reliable operation of the UK’s largest electricity distribution network, serving more than eight million customers across the East and West Midlands, South West and South Wales. 

    Previously Cordi was President of National Grid Ventures, where she led the development, financing, construction and operation of large-scale energy assets; such as electricity interconnectors, LNG storage and regasification, onshore wind and solar generation.

    Cordi also served as Chief Operating Officer at National Grid’s US Gas Business and before that she ran the UK System Operator for National Grid, where she oversaw the strategy, planning and operation of over 14,000 miles of gas and electricity networks in Great Britain.

    In her time at National Grid, Cordi has been a strong advocate for innovative solutions to a decarbonised energy market, believing clean technology solutions and new demand response initiatives can help to deliver Government targets for net zero.

    Cordi became a fellow of the UK Energy Institute in 2016, acknowledging her significant experience in UK and European energy markets and networks. She was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to the energy industry.

  • Basil Scarsella

    Basil is Chief Executive Officer and Director of UK Power Networks, owned by the CK Group. Prior to taking up the appointment at UK Power Networks, Basil was the CEO of Northern Gas Networks from 2005, also owned by the CK Group. Basil holds a degree in Economics from the University of Adelaide and is a Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant. He is a Life Member of Football Australia and former Member of the Executive Committee of FIFA. He received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and in 2003 became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), for services to sport.

  • Fintan Slye

    Fintan Slye is Director of the Electricity System Operator, National Grid.

    Prior to joining National Grid, he was CEO of the EirGrid Group, the electricity transmission system operator and market operator in Ireland and Northern Ireland. He led a process of significant change within the company which included a programme on integrating renewables onto the Irish electricity grid and a new approach to public consultation and engagement. Fintan has served as Vice-Chair of the Board of Entso-e (the European organisation for Transmission System Operators) and is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Ireland. He also worked for McKinsey supporting clients across Ireland, the UK and Europe, as well as holding roles in ESB National Grid and ESB International.

    He is a graduate of University College Dublin, from where he holds a Masters in Engineering Science and an MBA. Fintan has a deep knowledge of the industry and is passionate about decarbonisation, and was proud to announce (on 1 April 2019) the ESO’s ambition to operate the system with zero carbon by 2025.

  • Ian Smyth

    Ian joined Electricity North West in 2022 as Chief Executive Officer.

    Prior to Electricity North West Ian was a member of the executive committee of UK Power Networks leading the commercial division and serving some the UK’s largest enterprises including Ministry of Defence, Heathrow Airport, Network Rail and High Speed 1.

    Previously Ian worked with governments, regulators and utilities in electricity, water and gas across international markets. His leadership roles included Managing Director for Europe Middle East and Asia for Navigant/Guidehouse, Partner leading Energy Utilities and Regulated Industries for LCP and as consultant for Ernst & Young.

    Ian has a BA(Hons) in philosophy, psychology, statistics and artificial intelligence from Manchester Metropolitan University and an MSc in Cognitive Science from the University of Birmingham.

  • Mark Wild

    Mark Wild has more than 30 years of experience leading complex and critical infrastructure. An Engineer with Hons Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Masters in Business Administration. Mark started his career in the electricity sector, but the majority of his experience has been in transportation. He has had a long career in operating and building major transportation infrastructure. Mark is the former Managing Director of Westinghouse Signals and was the CEO of Public Transport Victoria. Mark is the former Managing Director of London Underground and the former CEO of Crossrail, Europe’s largest infrastructure programme. Mark took up the role of CEO for SGN, one of the UK’s largest gas distribution networks, on 15 August 2022.

Our members